Switch a few daily habits and reap big
rewards. Easy!
Swap coffee for tea
Tea
actually reduces stress levels, whereas other caffeinated drinks, like coffee,
raise them
A morning Cuppa will protect you from
summer colds, according to a study by Harvard University. The immune cells of
morning tea- drinkers responded five times faster to germs than those of coffee
drinkers. ‘Tea actually reduces stress levels, whereas other caffeinated
drinks, like coffee, raise them,’ says nutritionist Amanda Ursell. ‘And, over
time, stress will weaken your immune system.’ For even better protection, have
a cup of green tea, which contains anti- viral compounds as well as immune- boosting
antioxidants. Try Clipper Green Tea, $.455 for 80 bags.
Swap Facebook for the phone
Social
media is a wonderful thing, but it ruins proper communication,’ claims
Professor Cary Cooper, a stress expert from Lancaster University
Stop messaging friends via social
networking sites and do the old- fashioned thing- pick up the phone. US
researchers found that speaking- yes, out loud- to at least one good friend
every day boosts happiness levels by 9%. ‘Social media is a wonderful thing,
but it ruins proper communication,’ claims Professor Cary Cooper, a stress
expert from Lancaster University. ‘Studies show our relationships make us
happier than anything else, including wealth, and humans need daily face- to-
face or verbal contact with other humans to stay healthy and happy.’
Swap scrambled eggs for fried
A
fried egg cooked in a non- stick pan is just 90 calories
Greasy spoon caffs have given fried eggs a
bad rep- but it is not necessarily justfied, says Amanda. ‘A fried egg cooked
in a non- stick pan is just 90 calories, whereas a couple of scrambled eggs-
often seen as the more virtuous choice- can stack up to 300 calories if it is
made with milk and butter, she says. If only scrambled will do, just add a
splash of skimmed milk and hold the butter. Or try our scrambled egg with
smoked salmon recipe, p118.
Swap long gym sessions for fitness snacking
It
is official- long workouts are out. Countless studies show we do not need to be
in the gym for an hour, three times a week
It is official- long workouts are out.
Countless studies show we do not need to be in the gym for an hour, three times
a week,’ says celeb trainer Matt Roberts. Canadian research found that four to
six, 20 to 30- second bursts of cycling with four- minute rests, three times a
week, were as effective as three 90 10 120- minute moderate sessions. Just ten
minutes a day of, say, brisk walking, jogging or squats, will give results
within a few weeks, says Matt.
Swap money - saving for calories - saving
So
ignore the more - for – your - money offers and buy smaller packs
From an evolutionary point of view, we do
not know where our next meal is coming from, so we are programmed to overeat,’
says Amanda. You should never buy bumper bags of food as studies show the more
food we have access to, the more we eat. So ignore the more- for- your- money
offers and buy smaller packs. It is called portion distortion, says Dr Brian
Wansink, a food psychologist from Cornell University in the US. With bigger
packs of food, we eat more without realising. So to stay slim, shop small.
